Encourage rice-growing project

THERE has been a sudden flurry of ads in our dailies by Trukai Industries Ltd.
They are obviously aimed at playing with the minds of our political and business leaders, highlighting the generous sponsorship of our athletes and organisations over the years.
When Naima Agro Industries expresses interest to grow rice in PNG, engaging only a certain portion of Central province land with a K5 billion proposed investment, Trukai cries foul.
It claims that if the government accepts the proposal, Naima-Agro will enjoy a monopoly that will be detrimental to others.
From what I understand, Naima-Agro is seeking a 20-year grace period and the government has the prerogative to review or deny its request.
On the other hand, Trukai has enjoyed 40 years of mono­poly in PNG.
The likes of Trukai, NRD, Homestate, AML and Lams Trading are no­thing more than distributing agents for overseas rice industries.
What percentage of locally-grown rice is packaged and sold by these distri­butors from their overall distribution?
The recent 18% reduction in the price of Trukai and Roots rice is merely a ploy to convince us that there is no immediate need for a new investor.
What PNG needs is to grow its own rice locally and thereafter gradually develop it into a viable national rice industry.
We do not need a meal for a day but food for life.
 The government should encourage the proposed rice-growing project and protect it in the face of competition from esta­blished rice growers abroad who export rice to PNG and, needless to say, save some K600 million a year.
The Kairuku-Hiri landowners have offered their land, albeit cautiously, for the proposed billion kina rice project as they are fearful of what will happen to them, their land and their lifestyle in the future.
Agriculture Minister Sir Puka Temu and the Department of Agriculture and Livestock, are urged to carefully explain to them how their lives will be impacted by the rice project.

Joseph Laua
Kairuku